2075" 
.lA/33 



EXTRACT 



FROM 



AN ADDRESS 



DELIVERED ON THE 



MORNING OF MAY 31, 1826. 







itW 



BOSTON, 
ISAAC R. BUTTS AND CO. 

PRINTERS TO THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION- 
1826. 




The Address, a part of which is here published, was delivered 
before the Conference of Ministers, who annually assemble at the 
Vestry in Berry Street, Boston, on the morning of election. By 
vote of the Conference a copy was requested for the press. The 
introductory remarks are omitted by desire of the author. 



1 



3^° 



is 



EXTRACT 



AN ADDRESS. 



Among those objects of public interest, which make a 
special demand upon the ministers of religion, there is 
one, toward which I wish now to draw your particular 
attention ; because I think, that at the present moment, 
it has a peculiar claim upon it. I refer to those great 
efforts, which are making at the present day, by all sects 
of christians, and in different parts of the christian world, 
to communicate the knowledge of Christianity, and to ex- 
tend its blessings to the heathen. What interest ought 
we to feel, and what part ought we to take, in this great 
movement ? 

As to the object itself, toward which this movement is 
directed, I think there can be with christians but one 
feeling. In proportion to our estimate of the value of 
our holy religion, we must wish to see its blessings ex- 
tended to all mankind. We must cordially wish success 
to every effort for this purpose, and must heartily rejoice 
in all the evidences of success, with which any of them 
are attended. 



But I am far from thinking it a reasonable ground of 
censure or of surprise, that men of reflection should be 
slow to engage in any of the enterprises, which are at- 
tempted for this purpose. The history of foreign mis- 
sions is full of lessons of caution, and of distrust. How 
much of pious and well meant exertion has been wasted 
in ill-concerted schemes, and ill-conducted attempts to 
convert the nations of the east to Christianity ! How 
many flattering and even splendid accounts of success 
have proved wholly fallacious, to break down our confi- 
dence and destroy our hopes ! 

But are we therefore to be discouraged from all fur- 
ther attempts, and to abandon the cause as hopeless ? 
In those unsuccessful endeavours, which have heretofore 
been made, for the conversion of the heathen, may we 
not discover some causes of failure /which do not appertain 
to the exertions, which are making for the purpose at the 
present day, or such as are capable of being avoided in fu- 
ture attempts ? Shall we not find these causes, partly in the 
form, in which Christianity has been presented, and part- 
ly in the manner in which it has been attempted to be 
introduced ? But let Christianity be presented in its pure 
and simple form, and there is nothing in it unintelligible, 
incredible, or revolting, that it should be impossible to 
recommend it to the heathen mind. Nor is it necessary 
that the heralds of the gospel should lose their labour, 
as has too often happened, by offering it to those, whom 
they have taken no care to prepare for its reception by 
previous instruction and discipline. All this those who 
are engaged in the great cause are beginning to under- 
stand ; and in proportion as their manner of conducting 



their efforts is regulated by this new and just view of the 
subject, they are pursued with new prospects, and new 
indications of success. A new era is thus actually com- 
menced. Preparatory measures are thought necessary, 
where the gospel is to be offered. Efforts are directed 
more to the education of the young, than to the conver- 
sion of adults. Schools are established. Useful arts, 
and better habits and customs are introduced. And in- 
stead of offering the doctrines of the gospel first and 
alone, they are preceded or accompanied with all the 
improvements of christian countries in government and 
education, with the pure morality of the gospel, and 
with christian institutions. Thus under the influence of 
a good education, conducted with little or no direct refe- 
rence to Christianity, a certain portion of the generation, 
that is now coming into life, may be prepared to renounce, 
n they arrive at mature life, the polytheism and idolatry 
of their country, and add the christian faith and profes- 
sion to the christian morals, in which they have been 
educated. The salutary influences of this change in the 
course pursued, are already beginning to appear in seve- 
ral parts of the Eastern world. Of this we can entertain 
no doubt, after making all due deductions for the exagge- 
rations of honest enthusiasm in the accounts which come 
to us. The schools for educating the children of the 
natives of India in European learning cannot fail to pro- 
duce an immense change in the character of the next 
generation. Those seminaries must be continually pour- 
ing out, to mingle with the mass of the population, and 
infuse a new character into it, large numbers of youth, 
imbued with knowledge, which will prepare them for 
1* 



renouncing the superstitions of their fathers, and for re- 
ceiving a purer doctrine and a more reasonable faith ; 
and which will give them a commanding influence in the 
community, and gradually, and in no great length of 
time, effect an important change in the religious and mo- 
ral state of the country. 

In view of this state of things, there seems to me to 
be reasonable ground of encouragement for christians to 
engage in earnest endeavours to send the blessings of 
the gospel to the heathen. And to no denomination of 
christians is the encouragement so strong, as to those, 
who maintaining the strict personal unity of God, have 
not to encounter, together with other obstacles, the ob- 
jection so constantly urged against Christianity by intelli- 
gent heathen, that the fundamental doctrine of our reli- 
gion is neither more intelligible, nor more rational, than 
the polytheism, which they are called upon to renounce. 

There is, besides, as relates to an important portion of 
the heathen world, another ground of encouragement, 
wholly peculiar to Unitarian christians, and peculiar to 
the present time. I refer to the question, which has for 
some time past been agitated with deep interest by the 
learned among the natives of Tndia, relative to what was 
originally the fundamental doctrine of their religion. 
There exists accordingly, at this time, among the most 
enlightened natives of India, what is not usual, a spirit of 
inquiry on the subject of religion ; and a spirit of inquiry 
is always and every where, favourable to christian truth. 
This spirit has been stirred up, and has received the direc- 
tion which it has now taken, by one of the most extraor- 
dinary men, that the age has produced. This wonderful 



man is Rammohun Roy. He has appeared as a great 
reformer. He has attacked the popular polytheism of 
his country, and is endeavouring to abolish some of its 
shocking institutions and customs. He has besides 
studied the Jewish and christian scriptures, — has acquired 
a thorough and critical knowledge of them, and a wide 
extent of learning intimately connected with them ; and 
has expressed his high admiration of the doctrine of the 
gospel, and its precepts. By the great powers of his 
mind, his extensive and accurate learning, and the excel- 
lence of his character, he is qualified to exert, and is now 
exerting, a great and salutary influence over the most 
intelligent of his countrymen, in favour of the pure doc- 
trines of uncorrupted religion. 

Several of his learned countrymen have adopted his 
views respecting the unity of God, and the nature of 
true religion ; and are uniting their labours with his, in 
the great work of reformation. Whether it be from a 
conviction of the truth and divine origin of Christianity, 
or only from a perception of its excellence, and its supe- 
riority to any other religion that has been offered to them ; 
whichever be their motive, they are ready to lend all the 
aid in their power to favour its introduction among their 
countrymen. And it is Christianity, as it is held by Uni- 
tarians, that they regard as so great a blessing, and which 
receives their support. These circumstances offer en- 
couragements, and hopes, and inducements to missionary 
efforts, such as have never before been presented. Pros- 
pects entirely new are opened. The business is already 
begun for us. Heretofore, and even now, with respect to 
all other denominations of christians, the missionary has 



8 

all the higher classes of society opposed to hhn, and cati 
usually have access to the minds only of the lowest and 
most ignorant part of the population ; and if a few con- 
verts are made from among these, their example will have 
but little influence, and what little it has will be rather unfa- 
vourable to the cause. But in the case of the distin- 
guished Hindoo just mentioned, and his coadjutors, we 
have the first talents and learning in the nation, and men 
of the highest standing and character, co-operating with 
us, and aiding the cause by all the influence, which they 
can exert over their countrymen by their writings, and by 
their example. When such an impression is made for us, 
and such an influence exerted, can we regard it as any 
thing less, than a distinct indication of heaven what is 
our duty ? Can we doubt whether we are called upon to 
co-operate in the great and glorious work of emancipating 
millions from the thraldom of superstition, and opening 
their eyes to the light of true religion ? — Would it not be 
cause of deep regret to us hereafter, were the work to 
be achieved without us, while we were looking on only 
as idle spectators ; or were the glorious opportunity of- 
fered us by Providence, for want of the aid, which it was 
in our power to give, to be lost for ever ? 

Another circumstance of present promise and encour- 
agement, such as can seldom be expected to recur, is 
closely connected with that, which has just been no- 
ticed. There is already on the spot at Calcutta, a man* 
of distinguished talents, of competent learning, of un- 
blemished character, and of hearty zeal in the cause ; 
who has been engaged for several years, in conjunction 

* Rev. Mr Adam. 



with the great religious philosopher before mentioned, in 
promoting the cause of Christianity in its pure and simple 
form. These able and intrepid reformers, who have done 
so much, unaided and alone, and amidst opposition both 
from heathen and christian prejudice, to awaken public 
attention and to give a direction to the spirit of inquiry, 
it is believed to be now in our power to encourage by 
our sympathy, by our approbation, and by expressing a 
feeling of interest in their labours and their success ; and 
to aid by such contributions, as we may be able to send 
them, to enable them to proceed in the work, and bring 
it to a happy issue. 

When I thus speak of contributions, you will not sup- 
pose me to mean, that the clergy should themselves be 
expected to furnish, from their very limited resources, 
contributions adequate to such a purpose. Of silver and 
gold, I well know, they can usually contribute but little. 
That little, however, they are bound by the strongest 
obligations to contribute, both as a personal duty, and as 
an example to others. But it is in their power to awaken 
an interest on the subject in the public mind, to exert an 
influence, to remove prejudices and misconceptions, to 
draw the attention of those to it, who have the means 
and the disposition to contribute largely, as soon as satis- 
factory reasons for doing it are offered ; and to devise the 
best means for accomplishing the great purpose. 

It is desirable, that the experiment should be fairly 
made, whether our religion can be more readily introduc- 
ed into heathen countries, in the form in which it is held 
by us, than in those forms, in which it has usually been 
offered ; and whether it can be made more easily to de. 



10 

scend from the higher to the lower, than to ascend from 
the lower to the higher classes in the community. This 
experiment I think will now be faithfully made, whether 
we, the ministers of religion, shall give it our countenance, 
and aid its prosecution, or not. The reasons for believing 
this are, as I have before stated, that among the natives 
in India there is a small, but highly respectable, body of 
monotheists ; and among the European inhabitants, of 
Unitarian christians, who are united together in earnest 
endeavors to reform the religion of the country. Unita- 
rian christians in England also seem fully sensible of the 
value and importance of these indications of a great in- 
cipient revolution in the minds of men in India on the 
subject of religion, and are taking spirited and well con- 
certed measures to promote it, and to give it a right 
direction. And in this country, whatever may be the 
course, which we shall pursue, there are individuals, who 
are so deeply impressed with the value of the opportu- 
nity now offered, and with the duty of seizing the occa- 
sion, that they will not suffer the experiment to fail for 
want of the efforts requisite on their part to give it suc- 
cess. 

In view of these circumstances, it is for us now to say, 
whether we will be the last to listen to the appeal, which 
is so distinctly made to us by the providence of God ; 
the last to manifest a lively interest in spreading abroad 
the truths of our holy religion, and to aid in extending 
its blessings to all, who are willing to receive them. 

Should success, equal to our hopes, attend the present 
efforts to convert the natives of India to the christian 
faith, and the worship of one God, the doubts so long* 



11 

resting on the minds of many, as to the efficacy of any 
human means for the conversion of the heathen, will be 
removed ; and christians will no longer be discouraged 
from attempts to impart the blessings of the gospel to 
other heathen nations, as they have before been, by the 
apprehended hopelessness of the case. The work will go 
on, the agents in it gathering strength, and courage, and 
experience as they proceed. Success in one point will 
animate to new exertions in other directions. The pious 
and benevulent will be inspired with new hopes and new 
energy ; and every additional example of an individual 
or of a people receiving the christian faith, will supply 
new motives and new courage for engaging in the holy 
work. 

In this, as in every other enterprise, in which religion 
is the main and direct concern ; whether it be to purify it, 
to advance its interests, or to extend the knowledge of it, 
it is justly demanded of those, who are its appointed teach- 
ers, to lead the way, and to stand in the first rank of la- 
bour, of sacrifice, and of danger. But, in the present state 
of things, there is little room to speak of labours, or dan- 
gers, or sacrifices. None are required of you, that are 
worthy of being named. All that is now demanded is, 
that we lay aside all prepossessions adverse to the cause, 
if such have before been entertained, and laying open our 
minds to conviction and our hearts to impression, we give 
our attention to the subject in all its circumstances, and 
in all the evidence, in which it is now, by numerous pub- 
lications, brought before the community. When this has 
been done, it must be left, and it may be safely left for 
each one to judge, according to the degree of conviction, 



*12 

which has been produced, in what manner, to what de- 
gree, and by what means, it is his duty to aid the cause. 
Here then I rest the appeal, and I rest it with entire con- 
fidence and satisfaction. 

But the time may not be distant — I hope it is not ; 
when more will be required of us, than is required at 
present ; when there will be a call, not only for sympa- 
thy and encouragement to those, who are already engaged 
in the work, but for fellow labourers to join them in it. 
And I trust that when that time shall come, it will find 
us prepared for the exigencies of it. I trust, that when- 
ever in the judgment of those, who take a deep interest 
in the subject, and have the best information upon it, 
there shall be a demand for able, pious, learned, and in- 
trepid men to devote their lives to the service, such men 
will be found, ready to go forth, wherever duty shall call 
them, and to do and to suffer whatever the holy cause, 
to which they devote themselves. s K all require. 



